Means for sealing jars



May 4, 1937. E. PURDUM MEANS FOR SEALING JARS Filed April 22, 1936 ATTORN EYS WITNESS Patented May 4, 1937 UNIT-ED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in closure means for hermetically sealing fruit jars or the like.

Fruit jars are usually sealed by means of a fiat rubber gasket clamped between a circular bead or flange surrounding the neck of the jar and the lower edge of a closure cap threaded onto the neck of the jar. These gaskets are open to the objection that they frequently tear, or creep and bunch, particularly when old, when the cap is turned upon the same and to an unnoticeable extent but sufliciently to permit air to leak into the jar and cause fermentation of the contents thereof.

Having the foregoing in mind the principal object of my invention is to provide reliable means for hermetically sealing such jars without the aid of the usual flat gasket. 7

Another object is to provide a simply constructed inexpensive device readily attachable to the above identified form of fruit jar to form, in conjunction with the neck of the jar and the usual bead or flange thereon, an annular groovelike pocket surrounding the lower edge of the u closure cap and for receiving a sealing medium.

Another object is to provide a fruit jar embodying, as an integral part thereof, an annular groove-like container surrounding the lower edge of the'usual closure cap and adapted to retain a sealing medium therein in position to surround the lower edge of said cap.

Other objects, together with the advantages of my improvements, will be readily understood when the following description and claims are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a portion of a fruit jar equipped according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of a glass fruit jar of the type previously identified, 2 the reduced neck portion thereof threaded around its upper end as at 3, and 4 the usual bead or flange surrounding the neck 2 below the threads 3 and having an inwardly inclined lower edge 5. The internally threaded closure cap 6 shown is of the type provided with an inside glass cover plate I which need merely be identified in passing.

According to my invention the jar described is equipped with an annular resilient containelr member 8, preferably of rubber, surrounding the bead or flange 4 and formed with an inwardly inclined edge 9 adapted to fit against the lower edge of the bead or flange 4. The opposite edge of the member 8 is outwardly inclined as shown 5 at it] and projects above the head or flange 4 sufficiently to form, in conjunction with the neck 2 and said bead or flange, an annular groove-like pocket I l surrounding the lower edge of the closure cap 6 when the latter is screwed tight against 10 the upper edge of the neck 2. Preferably the edge 9 of the member 8 is reinforced by a bead l2 extending around said member 8. The pocket ii is filled with a suitable sealing medium such as parafiin, or sealing Wax.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the jar l3 has formed integrally therewith a right angled flange Hi surrounding the neck l5 of the jar and forming a pocket It of the same shape and location as that described with reference to Figure 1 and designed to receive the same type of sealing medium I1.

As will be clear the annular member 8 may be readily attached to or detached from the jar as occasion may require and when attached is securely held in position. By forming the said member of a rubber composition suitable for withstanding a high degree of heat said member may be used upon the jar while the jar is hot, as for instance when heated from hot contents therein and the sealing medium may be poured into the pocket H in a heated condition without damage to the said member.

Although my invention has been described in the foregoing as embodying certain specific features of construction, it is to be understood that right is herein reserved to modifications of details falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A container member for use upon fruit jars provided with a flange surrounding the neck of the jar, said member comprising an annular resilient band adapted to surround said flange and of a width to extend below the flange for reactive engagement with the under surface thereof and 5 to extend above said flange to form in conjunction therewith and with the neck of the jar an an nular groove-like pocket for containing a sealing medium.

2. A container member for use upon jars having body and neck portions, respectively, and provided with a flange surrounding the neck of the jar above the body portion, said member comprising an annular resilient band adapted to surround said flange and embodying an inwardly inclined edge for reactive engagement with the under surface of said flange, and an outwardly inclined opposite edge adapted to project above said flange to form in conjunction therewith and with the neck of the jar an outwardly flaring annular pocket for containing a sealing medium.

3. A container member for use upon jars having body and neck portion, respectively, and provided with a flange surrounding the neck of the jar above the body portion, said member comprising an annular resilient band adapted to 

